FR3043621A1 - TERRESTRIAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, BUS TYPE, WITH INTERIOR ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE MODULES. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a terrestrial electric passenger transport vehicle (100), in particular of the bus or tram-bus type, comprising: one or more rechargeable energy storage modules (114) supplying an electric motor of said vehicle (100), - a cockpit (112), and - at least one water sealing means (208), said principal, protecting said passenger compartment (112); characterized in that at least one storage module (114) is disposed between said main sealing means (208) and said passenger compartment (112).

Description

"Ground Transit Electric Vehicle, Bus Type, With Inner Electrical Energy Storage Modules"

The present invention relates to a terrestrial public transport vehicle, of the bus or tram-bus type, provided with electrical energy storage modules, in particular rechargeable modules, arranged inside said vehicle.

The field of the invention is the field of terrestrial public transport vehicles, of the bus or tram-bus type, provided with rechargeable electrical energy storage modules for supplying at least one electric motor of said electric vehicle.

State of the art

The development of terrestrial public transport electric vehicles, particularly on the road, raises the question of the positioning of rechargeable batteries intended to power the vehicle's electric motor. The positioning of the batteries must take into account various parameters such as the safety of the passengers in the event of a collision, the habitability of the vehicle, the accessibility in the vehicle, etc., knowing that the size and the number of the batteries are notably imposed by the desired range for the electric vehicle.

Currently, in the electric buses, the batteries are most often posed, apparently, on the roof of the vehicle, in the rear, central or front of the vehicle roof, in the form of an additional block projecting the flag.

However, this provision has several disadvantages, including an increase in wind resistance decreasing the range of the vehicle, an increase in the total height of the vehicle restricting the passage of the vehicle on roads whose height is limited such as bridges, tunnels or other, and decreasing the stability of the vehicle.

In addition, the fact of positioning the batteries on the roof requires additional sealing to protect the batteries against the weather, which makes their installation expensive.

An object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to propose a terrestrial public transport electric vehicle, in particular of the bus type, proposing an improved arrangement of the electrical energy storage modules.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a terrestrial public transport electric vehicle, in particular of the bus type, proposing a less expensive electrical energy storage module arrangement.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The invention makes it possible to achieve at least one of these aims by a terrestrial electric passenger transport vehicle, in particular of the bus or tram-bus type, comprising: one or more modules of rechargeable electric energy storage powering an electric motor of said vehicle, - a passenger compartment, and - at least one watertight means, said principal, protecting said passenger compartment, in particular forming a roof of said vehicle; characterized in that at least one storage module is disposed between said main sealing means and said passenger compartment.

Thus, the electric vehicle according to the invention proposes to have the storage module or electrical energy storage in the vehicle, with respect to the sealing means of the passenger compartment. Thus, the vehicle according to the invention makes it possible to avoid the use of a wall, or a hood, sealing dedicated to the protection of (the) module (s) for storing electrical energy in addition to the watertightness of the cabin already planned. In other words, the invention proposes to use the same sealing means for both the passenger compartment and the module (s) for storing electrical energy.

Therefore, the electric vehicle according to the invention is less expensive to manufacture. In addition, the storage module (s) being disposed on the side of the passenger compartment, they are less apparent from the outside and have less influence on the behavior of the bus in terms of consumption, stability and accessibility, because their position improves the parameter Cx of said vehicle.

In addition, this arrangement has the advantage of a more fluid and pleasant exterior design.

Advantageously, at least one storage module can be disposed in a housing arranged in an upper wall, said upper cradle, between a main sealing means of the upper wall and the passenger compartment.

The upper cradle can be diving towards the cockpit.

The upper cradle can be bent so as to plunge into the passenger compartment at a central area of the vehicle in the direction of the width of the vehicle and up to the level of the upper lateral corners of the passenger compartment.

In particular, the portion immersed in the passenger compartment of the upper cradle may be in the form of isosceles trapezium, the small base of said trapezoid being in the passenger compartment.

The upper cradle may comprise one or more compartments, each compartment being designed to receive an electrical energy storage module.

The electrical energy storage modules can be arranged in the upper cradle aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The upper wall may be provided with one or more covers, said upper, removable or removable, providing both the main seal of the passenger compartment and access to the upper cradle from outside the vehicle.

The upper cradle may be arranged to receive, in addition to the electrical energy storage modules, electrical / electronic devices relating to the operation of the electrical energy storage modules such as a management box, storage modules, or more power converters, etc.

Alternatively or in addition, at least one electrical energy storage module may be disposed in a housing, called a rear cradle, arranged in a rear wall, between a main sealing means of the rear wall and the passenger compartment.

The rear cradle may comprise one or more compartments, each compartment being designed to receive an electrical energy storage module.

The electrical energy storage modules can be arranged in the rear cradle aligned in a vertical direction. In particular, the rear cradle may comprise several racks, each to receive a storage module of electrical energy, in a direction perpendicular to the rear wall.

The rear wall may be provided with one or more covers, said rear, removable or removable, providing both the main seal of the passenger compartment and access to the rear cradle from outside the vehicle.

Such a rear cradle can be arranged in a module independent of the frame of the vehicle, which is then attached to the rest of said frame.

The rear cradle may be arranged to receive, in addition to the electrical energy storage modules, electrical / electronic devices relating to the operation of the electrical energy storage modules such as a management box, storage modules, or several power converters, a charging socket, etc.

The rear cradle may be arranged to receive ancillary devices relating to the operation of the vehicle, such as a compressor, etc.

At least one of the ancillary devices and / or electrical / electronic devices may be disposed on the periphery of the rear housing in at least one housing arranged for said apparatus.

Alternatively or in addition, at least one storage module may be disposed in a housing, called lower cradle, arranged in a lower wall, between a main sealing means of the lower wall and the passenger compartment.

The lower cradle may comprise one or more compartments, each compartment being provided to receive an electrical energy storage module.

The electrical energy storage modules can be arranged in the lower cradle aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The lower wall may be provided with one or more covers, said lower, removable or removable, allowing access to the lower cradle in a transverse direction perpendicular to the side walls of the vehicle.

The lower cradle may be arranged to receive, in addition to the electrical energy storage modules, electrical / electronic devices relating to the operation of the electrical energy storage modules such as a management box, storage modules, or several power converters, a charging socket, etc.

The lower cradle can be arranged to receive ancillary devices relating to the operation of the vehicle, such as a compressor, etc.

At least one of the ancillary devices and / or electrical / electronic devices may be disposed on the periphery of the lower cradle in at least one compartment designed for said apparatus.

The vehicle according to the invention may comprise means for evacuating condensation due to at least one storage module, in particular out of a housing in which said at least one storage module is disposed.

When the at least one storage module is disposed in a housing, the condensation discharge means may comprise at least one condensation flow opening out of said housing, arranged in said housing.

For example, when the at least one storage module is disposed in the upper cradle, the condensation discharge means may comprise at least one condensation flow opening out of said upper cradle, provided in said cradle.

Advantageously, the main sealing means may comprise a removable cover, or removable, for example to access the energy storage module to perform a maintenance operation.

The hood may further be sized to remove, or replace, a storage module.

In a particularly advantageous version, the main sealing means may comprise a movable cover, in particular in rotation, between a closed position and an open position.

In the case where the storage module is disposed in the upper cradle or in the lower cradle, the cover can advantageously be movable about a longitudinal axis. The axis of rotation can be positioned to allow access from a side wall of the vehicle.

When the storage module is disposed in the upper cradle, the cover can open upwards.

When the storage module is disposed in the lower cradle, the cover can open downwards.

When at least one storage module is arranged in the upper cradle, and the upper cradle comprises a cover, the latter can be provided with a tongue: - provided on at least a portion of the periphery of the cover, - protruding said cover downwards, and - positioned so that in the closed position of said cover, said tongue is outside a tongue, provided on the side of the upper wall of the vehicle, for example on a fixed surface of the upper wall, or on a fixed frame of said hood.

The tab of the upper cradle cover may be provided with a seal coming from pressing a surface disposed opposite said tab when the cover is in the closed position.

Alternatively, the main sealing means may comprise a non-removable cover, the access to the storage module being made from inside the vehicle, that is to say from the passenger compartment of said vehicle.

In one embodiment, in no way limiting, the vehicle according to the invention may comprise a so-called secondary sealing means disposed between said at least one storage module and the passenger compartment.

In particular, when at least one storage module is disposed in an upper cradle or a rear cradle, said cradle may be equipped with a secondary sealing means between said cradle and the passenger compartment.

Such a sealing means is called "secondary" because it is less resistant to water than the main sealing means.

In one embodiment, in no way limiting, the vehicle according to the invention may comprise a fire protection means disposed between at least one storage module and the passenger compartment.

Such a protection means may comprise an anti-fire partition, positioned between the at least one module and the passenger compartment.

In particular, when at least one storage module is disposed in an upper cradle, a rear cradle, or a lower cradle, said cradle can be equipped with a fire-proof or fire-resistant partition, protecting the passenger compartment. .

According to a particular embodiment, in no way limiting, the vehicle according to the invention can be an electric bus, an electric car or an electric tram-bus.

In the present application, a "tram-bus" designates a terrestrial public transport vehicle mounted on wheels and which recharges at each station, so as not to require heavy rail-type infrastructures, catenaries, on the road. Such an electric vehicle is recharged at each station by means of load elements of the station and a connector connecting said vehicle to said station.

In particular, the vehicle may comprise four electrical energy storage modules arranged in an upper cradle and four electrical energy storage modules arranged in a rear cradle.

Each electrical energy storage module may comprise at least one battery, in particular LMP® (for "Lithium Metal Polymer"), or at least one supercapacity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS Other advantages and characteristics will appear on examining the detailed description of a non-limiting embodiment, and the appended drawings in which: FIGURES 1-4 are diagrammatic representations under different angles of view of a non-limiting example of an electric vehicle according to the invention.

It is understood that the embodiments which will be described in the following are in no way limiting. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if this part is only sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation, in a side view, of a non-limiting embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention.

The vehicle 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an electric bus having a front wall 102, two side walls 104 and 106, a rear wall 108 and an upper wall 110.

The walls 102-110 define a cabin 112, designed to accommodate users in the bus 100.

The electric bus comprises one or more electric motors (not shown), electrical energy storage modules 114 and 116, rechargeable, for powering the electric motor.

More specifically, the vehicle comprises four electric power storage modules 114i-1144 disposed in a housing, said upper cradle, arranged in the thickness of the upper wall 110, and four electrical energy storage modules II61-II64 arranged in a housing, said rear cradle, arranged in the thickness of the rear wall 108.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial representations of the vehicle of FIGURE 1, in a cross-sectional view along the axis AA shown in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper cradle 202 is formed by transverse longitudinal members 204 and 206 joining the side walls 104 and 106 to each other. The longitudinal members 204 and 206 meet at each of the side walls of the bus 100. The spar 204 is substantially horizontal while the spar 206 is bent and plunges into the passenger compartment 112. The spar 204 is disposed higher than the spar 206 .

More particularly, the upper cradle 202 is in the shape of an isosceles trapezium, the large base of said trapezium being formed by the horizontal spar 204 and the small base of the trapezium being formed by the spar 206 and plunging into the passenger compartment 112.

The vehicle 100 comprises above the upper cradle 202 a partition or a main cover 208 ensuring the main seal of the cabin 112 against the weather. In other words, the upper cradle 202 is disposed between the bonnet, or bulkhead, main seal 208 and the passenger compartment 112.

The cover 208 is fixed to the upper wall 110, and in particular on a frame of the upper wall 110, in a demountable manner, without degrading said upper wall, for example by screwing.

A secondary sealing element 210, such as for example an interior trim panel of the passenger compartment 112, can be provided under the upper cradle 202, for example to protect the passenger compartment 112 against condensation due to the storage module 114 This secondary sealing element 210 is not intended to protect the passenger compartment 112 against the weather.

FIGURE 3 is a detailed representation of area 212 of FIGURE 2.

More particularly, FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a main sealing means used in the top wall 110.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the bonnet, or bulkhead, of main seal 208 has a tab, or lip, 302 projecting from bonnet 208 downward, provided at the end of bonnet 208 on any the periphery of said cover 208. The tongue 302 is equipped with a seal 304. The tongue 302, equipped with the seal 304, presses against a surface at the level of the upper wall 110.

The vehicle 100 also comprises a tongue, or a lip, 306 projecting towards the main cover 208, provided substantially opposite the periphery of the main cover 208 on the frame of the upper wall. The tongue 306 is also equipped with a seal 308. The tongue 306 equipped with the seal 308 presses on a surface of the cover 208.

In addition, the tongue 302 provided on the cover 208 is positioned outside the tongue 306 provided on the vehicle 100.

Thus, a double seal is obtained one inside the vertical tongue 306 and the other outside by the tongue 302.

FIGURE 4 is a detailed representation of the vehicle of FIGURES 1-3 in a top view.

The upper wall 110 is formed by a wall of steel, or plastic or aluminum, attached to the frame (not visible) of the bus 100 for example by screwing.

The main cover 208, removable, is provided in the upper wall 110 directly or via a frame.

The hood 208 provides the main seal of the upper cradle 202, and therefore of the passenger compartment 112.

The bus 100 is further provided with two secondary covers 404 and 406, arranged in the main cover 208, so that when the main cover 208 is removed, the secondary covers 404 and 406 are also removed. Each secondary cover 404 and 406 can be attached to the main cover 208 directly or via a frame in an opening in the main cover 208.

In the example shown, the secondary covers 404 and 406 are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bus 100.

Each secondary cover 404 and 406 is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation 408 between an open position allowing access to the upper cradle 202 and a closed position. The axis of rotation 408 is offset relative to the upper edge 410 of the bus 100, located on the side of the side wall 104, so that access to the upper cradle 202 is formed from the upper edge 410 of the bus 100.

Each storage module 114 and 116 may comprise one or more batteries, one or more supercapacitors, etc., and more generally implement any technology for storing electrical energy.

Of course, the number of higher storage modules is not limited to 4 and can be greater than or equal to 1. In particular, the number of storage modules corresponds to the maximum of energy storage modules depending in particular on the weight of the storage module. bus and autonomy considered sufficient for the operation of the bus.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples detailed above. For example, the invention is not limited to buses and can for example be applied to tram-buses and other public transport vehicles.

In addition, the vehicle according to the invention may comprise, alternatively or in addition, at least one storage module disposed between the passenger compartment and a wall of the lower wall, in particular in a housing provided in said lower wall.

In addition, the vehicle according to the invention may comprise storage modules arranged only on the side of the upper wall, or only on the side of the rear wall, or only on the side of the lower wall, or in combination with any one of these embodiments.

Claims (20)

Earth passenger electric transport vehicle (100), in particular of the bus or tram-bus type, comprising: one or more rechargeable electrical energy storage modules (114, 116) supplying an electric motor of said vehicle; (100), - a cockpit (112), and - at least one watertight means (208, 302-308), said principal, protecting said cockpit (112) -; characterized in that at least one storage module (114, 116) is disposed between said main sealing means (208, 302-308) and said passenger compartment (112). 2. Vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one storage module (114) is disposed in a housing (202), said upper cradle, arranged in an upper wall (110), between a means main seal (208, 302-308) of the upper wall (100) and the passenger compartment (112). 3. Vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that cjue the upper cradle (202) is immersed in the passenger compartment (112) at a central area of the vehicle (100) in the direction of the width of the vehicle (100) and rises at the upper lateral corners of said passenger compartment (112). 4. Vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the plunging portion of the upper cradle (202) is in the form of isosceles trapezium, the small base of said trapezium being in the passenger compartment (112). 5. Vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the upper cradle (202) comprises a plurality of compartments, each provided for receiving an electrical energy storage module (114). 6. Vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one storage module (116) is disposed in a housing, said rear cradle, arranged in a rear wall (108), between a main sealing means of the rear wall (108) and the passenger compartment (112). 7. Vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rear cradle comprises several racks, aligned in a vertical direction, and each provided for receiving an electrical energy storage module (116) in a perpendicular direction at the back wall. 8. Vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the rear cradle is arranged in a module independent of the frame of said vehicle (100). 9. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one storage module is disposed in a housing, said lower cradle, arranged in a lower wall, between a main sealing means of the lower wall. and the cockpit. 10. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for discharging a condensation due to at least one storage module. 11. Vehicle according to claim 10 and any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the condensation discharge means comprises at least one condensation flow opening out of said housing, arranged in said housing. 12. Vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main sealing means comprises a removable cover (208). A vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main sealing means (208, 302-308) comprises a movable cowl (404, 406) between a closed position and an open position, in particular in rotation. 14. Vehicle (100) according to claims 2 and 13, characterized in that the main sealing means comprises a tongue (302): - provided on at least a portion of the periphery of the cap (208), - protruding from said bonnet (208) down, and - positioned so that in the closed position of said cover (208), said tongue (302) is on the outside of a tongue (306), provided on the side of the upper wall (110) of the vehicle (100). 15. Vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tongue (302) is provided with a seal (304) pressing against a surface disposed opposite said tongue (302) when the hood is in closed position. 16. Vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main sealing means (208, 302-308) comprises a non-removable cover, the access to the storage module being made from the inside the vehicle. 17. Vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sealing means (210), said secondary disposed between said at least one storage module (114) and the passenger compartment. (112). 18. Vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a fire protection means disposed between at least one storage module and the passenger compartment. 19. Vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fire protection means comprises an anti-fire partition positioned between said at least one storage module (114, 116) and the passenger compartment. 20. Vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a bus, a coach or an electric tram-bus.